A Glossary of Astrological Terms for the letter "R"

Use this glossary to look up the meanings of words you come across on this website, or in your astrological reading. Just select the first letter of the word you need and click on it in the table below to go straight to that sector.

R

Rahu

Radiant

The point in the heavens from which the meteors in a meteors shower appear to originate. The Geminids, for example, are meteors that appear from a radiant in the constellation Gemini.

Radix (Radical)

Referring to the Natal Chart. In Horary terminology, it implies that conditions have been fulfilled enabling the chart to be judged.

Raman

One of the lesser-known Ayanamsas used to convert the tropical positions to the sidereal in Indian Astrology. It has a current arc of 21° 00' 52".

Rapt Motion

Apparent diurnal motion from east to west.

Rapt Parallels

Equal distances from the meridien formed by rapt motion (not zodiacal).

Rashi

Jyotish term for zodiac sign. The sign in which the Moon is placed at birth is also commonly known as the Rashi in Indian astrology.

Rays

Each planet is traditionally described as emanating seven rays, three to the left and three to the right of the diametric ray. The rays mark the major aspects, 60°, 90°, 120° to the left and right of the diametric 180°.

Reception

A planet in another planet's dignity is said to receive that planet. Planets in each other's dignities act as though in good aspect to each other (Mutual Reception). When in each other's debilities, planets act as though in adverse aspect to each other. Especially important when comparing nativities of two people. See also dispositor.

Rectification

Correcting the given birth time to true birth time by comparing the nature and date of significant events in the life with the aspects denoting them, or by other more arcane methods. A rectified chart gives a more radical (accurate) Moon, ascendant and mid-heaven, especially useful for forecasting.

Rectify

Perform rectification.

Refranation (Refrain)

If two planets are applying to an aspect and one of them turns retrograde before the aspect culminates, it is said to refrain from the aspect, showing that the effect indicated by the aspect will not materialise.

Regard

Regiomontanus House System

A system employing equal division of the equator, named after the 15th century mathematician Johan Muller of Konigsberg, (also known as Regiomontanus), who popularised its use through printed tables. It is considered by some authors as more reliable than Placidus. Valuable for births at high latitudes.

Regulus

A benefic Fixed Star in the 30th degree of Leo. The most royal of the four Royal Stars, a.k.a. Cor Leonis, the Lion's Heart.

Reincarnation

The rebirth of souls (or karmic threads) into new bodies. This teaching, which is in accord with the Law of Karma ("what ye have sown, so shall ye also reap"), was held by all ancient religions (even Christianity) but has been officially denied by the Church since the Fifth Ecumenical Council in 553 AD. Only a few esoteric sects, such as the Liberal Catholic Church and the Rosicrucians, still teach it. Reincarnation is also espoused by many Muslim scholars and has a strong role in Judaism, though many Jews and most Muslims no longer accept it. Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shinto, Theosophy, Pantheism, Paganism and the majority of other contemporary religions support reincarnation in one form or other. Some atheists accept it, but most do not. Astrology supports the idea of reincarnation, because almost all serious astrologers endorse the concept of karma as the only rational explanation in an ordered universe for inborn inequalities, and for events otherwise attributable only to chance. See Karma.

Rejoices

Relationship Analysis

An application of Astrology used to ascertain the nature of interpersonal relationships, with a view to compatibility. The most popular techniques used are synastry, or chart comparison, where two (or more) charts are compared to note the aspects between the planets in one with those in the other; and composite chart analysis, where charts are drawn up of the midpoints between the planets in one chart and those in the other.

Relationship Astrology

Astrology specialising in relationship analysis, for ascertaining the compatibility between two (or more) people in love, marriage, business, or other variety of important interaction.

Remedy

Traditional method of counteracting unfortunate astrological factors. For example, planetary gems, herbs, rituals, placement of objects, ceremonies and sacrifices. Used mainly today in India, where traditional Vedic Astrology (Jyotish) is a part of everyday life, but also by traditional astrologers in the West. Chinese astrology (esp. Feng Shui) also employs a similar range of remedies.

Retrograde

Apparent backward motion of a planet through the zodiac. Sun and Moon are never retrograde. Though viewed as a debility in Western Astrology, in Jyotish (Vedic Astrology), a retrograde planet in a good house and free from combustion and affliction is considered more powerful than normal.

Retrograde Station

Revolution

Right Ascension

Measurement along the equator by degrees only from the first point of Aries. 360 degrees into 24 hours means each degree occupies about 4 minutes (of clock time) on the equator.

Rising

A planet is said to be rising, or ascending, when moving via the ascendant between the fourth and tenth cusps, i.e. in the eastern hemisphere of the chart. Some modern astrologers only consider a planet to be rising if actually placed in the first house, where its strength is accentuated because angular.[It's a moot point as to whether a planet in the mid-heaven should be described as "rising", or simply "elevated". Certainly it is angular and thus strengthened.]

Rising Sign (Ascendant)

The sign on the cusp of the First House; the sign rising over the eastern horizon at the time of the native's birth in natal astrology, or question in horary. Strictly speaking the degree of the Rising Sign is the Ascendant (ASC) with regard to aspects. In traditional and in Vedic astrology, the whole sign rising over the eastern horizon at the time of the native's birth is called the Ascendant or Rising Sign.

Royal Stars (of Persia)

Fixed Stars of particular significance, first declared as Watchers, or Guardians of the World by ancient Persian astrologers at around 3000 BC, when they stood at the four angles of the Heavens. These stars were also assigned angelic status by the Hebrews. There are four Royal Stars:

1. Aldebaran, the Archangel Michael, Watcher of the East, ruler of the Vernal Equinox
2. Regulus, the Archangel Raphael, Watcher of the North, ruler of the Summer Solstice
3. Antares, the Archangel Oriel, Watcher of the West, ruler of the Autumnal Equinox
4. Fomalhaut, the Archangel Gabriel, Watcher of the South, ruler of the Winter Solstice.

Regulus is usually considered the "most royal", although Aldebaran has his proponents.

Rubido

In alchemy, the fourth and final stage of the Great Work; reddening; unification of man with the divine; unification of the limited with the unlimited.

Rudolphine Tables

Johannes Kepler's modern, scientific ephemerides published in 1627, based on the heliocentric system of Copernicus, modified according to Tycho Brahe's painstaking observations and Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion. These, named for Tycho's patron, the Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolph II replaced the less precise Alfonsine Tables, which were based on the Ptolemaic, geocentric system that had been in use for centuries. See Alfonsine Tables.

Rulership

1. Each of the visible planets (including Sun and Moon) are domiciled ("at home") in certain signs, due to the symbolic construction of the zodiacal system. They are said to rule, or have rulership, over these signs, which are most sympathetic to the expression of their natural energies, whether by day (diurnal; solar) or by night (nocturnal; lunar). Note that the Outer Planets do not fit into this schema, despite efforts of modern astrologers to assign rulership of certain signs to Uranus, Neptune and Pluto (and even asteroids!).
2. Signs and planets have rulership over particular places, people, creatures and things, which have been perceived to be sympathetic to their natures. Gems are a classic example (though there is some disagreement among authorities as to which gems are ruled by which signs and planets).

Ruling Planet

The ruling planet, or life-ruler, is the planet that is most highly dignified by elevation, sign and aspect in the birth chart. This is usually the ruler of the Ascendant, but can be another planet in the event that the ascendant-ruler is significantly debilitated. Should the time of birth be unknown, the Sun-ruler is usually classed as the ruling planet, though the Moon-ruler must also be considered.